Hackensack

AS ASSEMBLYMAN CARABALLO MIGHT SAY, "WILL THE REAL DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP PLEASE STAND UP?"

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...
WHY CORRUPTION PERSISTS

Editorial, The Record of Hackensack, December 17, 2006

New Jersey merits a mention in the venerable Harper's Index in the newest issue of Harper's magazine. It is not a flattering reference.

"Minimum number of New Jersey public officials who have been indicted since 2002: 104."

The Harper's Index tries to surprise readers with its list of statistics from around the world. But in this case, it may have shot too low. The Associated Press reports that the number of New Jersey government officials indicted on either state or federal charges since 2002 is about 200. That number might surprise even the hardened residents of this state: 200 indictments in four years averages 50 a year, or four a month.

Indictments of New Jersey public officials have become as regular as rain. Even when we go through an occasional dry period, we know they will come again. To understand why, one need only look at what happened in Trenton last week.

A provision that would have barred elected officials convicted of corruption from receiving public pensions was deleted from a pension-reform measure.

It is a no-brainer that public officials convicted of malfeasance should lose their pensions. Taxpayers should not have to support the retirement of officials who abused their trust. But the sponsors of the pension bill, Senate President Richard Codey, D-Essex, and Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, D-Paterson, say the provision was removed temporarily because of concerns about fairness: If corrupt elected officials stand to lose pensions, should government employees found guilty of corruption forfeit their retirement pay as well?

Fair question. But the answer is obvious: Both corrupt government employees and elected officials should lose pensions.

Codey says legislators are also weighing whether a convicted official with more than one pension should lose them all or just the one for the position that was abused. Say a former teacher elected as a legislator is found guilty of taking kickbacks. Should this official keep the teacher's pension because the corruption didn't pertain to that job?

Codey says yes. He should reconsider.

Allowing convicted public servants to keep government pensions unrelated to the corruption means some will suffer no significant reduction in retirement pay. They might even make out better than they do now.

An example is former Hudson County Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto, convicted last year of theft and criminal corruption. Two months after his conviction, Impreveduto began collecting a public pension.

Under current law, pension boards have the power to reduce or eliminate retirement pay. Impreveduto had amassed his pension from 33 years working in public schools. A month after he began collecting it, the teachers' pension board reduced it from about $55,000 to $40,000 because of his conviction. The board didn't go far enough.

Corruption flourishes in New Jersey because the public and government do not take necessary steps to stop it. One crucial step is stiff punishment. Senators should reinsert in the pension bill the provision on convicted officials forfeiting retirement pay. It should apply to government workers too, and it should require the elimination of all of an individual's public pensions.

The measure also originally called for mandatory jail time for convicted officials. That should be restored. Too many convicted officials escape jail through plea deals. Impreveduto did.

With 200 officials indicted in the past four years, now is not the time to go easy on corruption. Who knows, maybe strict pension forfeiture rules would cause officials to think twice before accepting bribes.

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DeCROCE SAYS PROPERTY TAX EXPLOSION JUSTIFIES
A 30 PERCENT TAX CREDIT FOR MOST HOMEOWNERS

Proposes 30% Tax Credit For Seniors And Households
Earning $200,000 or Less; Everyone Else Would See a 20% Reduction

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says a published report on Sunday that confirmed property taxes jumped an average of 7.3 percent for New Jersey homeowners in 2006 demands an immediate legislative response and one that will provide significant property tax relief in the coming year.

DeCroce said the report by The Record of Hackensack proves the tax relief proposals that have been bandied about by the Democrats who control the Legislature will not do enough to ease the crushing financial burden that has made New Jersey an unaffordable place to live for middle class families.

"New Jersey taxpayers are being bled dry," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "Democrats are responsible for a 35 percent rise in property taxes, $6 billion in new state taxes, $10 billion in increased spending and $37.5 billion in new debt in just five years. They promised property tax relief and reform by the end of 2006 and utterly failed to deliver on that promise. Is it any wonder thousands of New Jersey families are fleeing the state each year for more tax-friendly environments? It's time to end the exodus."

DeCroce called on Democrats, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to consider a major tax relief effort that includes:

* A permanent 30 percent property tax cut for all primary residences with a combined household income at or below $200,000.

* A permanent 20 percent tax cut for all other households.

* A guarantee that senior citizens on fixed incomes get a 30 percent or $2,000 property tax credit, whichever is higher.

* A $5,000 cap on any tax credit.

* Doubling the size of renter rebates.

GORDON SEEKS TO STOP PREDATORY PRACTICES,
REIN-IN ROGUE TOW TRUCK OPERATORS
Complaints of Sky-High Fees, Lack of Accountability Spur Legislation

(FAIR LAWN) -- Aiming to counter increasing complaints of heavy-handed practices by unscrupulous rogue tow-truck operators, Assemblyman Bob Gordon said he is drafting legislation to overhaul the practices of the state's towing industry to crack-down on towers who prey on unsuspecting motorists.

WEINBERG, JOHNSON, HUTTLE PROPOSE 12 STEP PLAN TO BEGIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

CORODEMUS: TURNPIKE AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POST FOR ETHICS VIOLATION

REPORTS INDICATE CHAIRMAN ACCEPTED FREE FLIGHTS ON CONTRACTOR'S PRIVATE AIRPLANE

CALIGUIRE BLASTS SARLO BILL
PROPPING UP FAILING XANADU DEVELOPER
Diverting Tax Money to Pay For Infrastructure Costs
Is Another Political Insider Move By Democrats

The Democrat Party has bent over backwards for the Mills Corp. since the inception of this project. Mills won’t even pay county taxes on its mega-mall, yet County Executive Dennis McNerney has remained silent and in his silence he has failed to represent the interests of the taxpayers of Bergen County.

DONOVAN, DEMOCRATS WRONG
WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH CALIGUIRE’S PLAN
TO CUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Massachusetts Proved It Can Be Done

It is time for a property tax revolution and it should start tomorrow in Bergen County.

SEN. CARDINALE ENDORSES MEMBER OF CALIGUIRE TEAM FOR FREEHOLDER

Hackensack NJ – Conservative State Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39th District) has announced he is endorsing Robert Yudin for freeholder in the upcoming June 6 Republican Primary election in Bergen County. Yudin, a Wyckoff resident, is running on the Responsible Republican ticket of the official Bergen County Republican Organization headed by Todd Caliguire.